Pharmaceutical contraceptive preparation

ABSTRACT

IN WHICH R1 H or an acyl group with one to four carbon atoms or an alkyl group with ONE TO TWO CARBON ATOMS, AND R2 an alkyn group with two to four carbon atoms, which may contain halogen AND IN WHICH THERE IS ONE ETHYLENIC BOND STARTING FROM CARBON ATOM FIVE TO CARBON ATOM FOUR OR SIX, PREFERABLY IN A QUANTITY OF FROM 0.1 TO 0.4 MG. PER DOSAGE UNIT FORM. The invention comprises also the treatment for the prevention of conception consisting in administrating to females continuously with regular intervals, preferably daily, the dosage unit forms. The invention relates to the manufacture of novel pharmaceutical preparations and to oral dosage unit forms comprising as sole contraceptive material a gestagenic substance of the general formula:   D R A W I N G

United States Patent [72] Inventor Gerhard Anthony Overbeek Nijmegen, Netherlands 211 App]. No. 2,418

[22] Filed Jan. 12, 1970 [45] Patented Nov. 30, 1971 [73] Assignee Organon Inc.

West Orange, NJ;

[32] Priority Feb. 26, 1969 l 33 Netherlands [54] PHARMACEUTICAL CONTRACEPTIVE 96l,502 6/1964 GreatBritain Primary Examiner-Richard L. Huff Attorney-Hugo E. Weisberger ABSTRACT: The invention relates to the manufacture of novel pharmaceutical preparations and to oral dosage unit forms comprising as sole contraceptive material a gestagenic substance of the general formula: I

R,=l-l or an acyl group with one to four carbon atoms or an alkyl group with one to two carbon atoms, and

R, an alkyn group with two to four carbon atoms, which may contain halogen and in which there is one ethylenic bond starting from carbon atom five to carbon atom four or six,

preferably in a quantity of from 0.l to 0.4 mg. per dosage unit form. The invention comprises also the treatment for the prevention of conception consisting in administrating to females continuously with regular intervals, preferably daily, the dosage unit forms.

in which PHARMACEUTICAL CONTRACEPTIVE PREPARATION The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of a novel pharmaceutical preparation and pharmaceutical dosage unit forms comprising the novel preparation, as well as to a method for the use of the relative pharmaceutical preparation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION lt is known to use combinations of gestagenic and oestrogenic substances as contraceptive preparations. These preparations are administered orally during periods of from 20 to 22 consecutive days. After such a period there occurs an ovulatory bleeding. The next period of administration is usually started on the fifth day after the onset of bleeding. This well-known method causes, at least in a number of individual cases, less desirable side-effects such as a feeling of discomfort, increase in weight and so-called breakthrough bleedings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION n Whlfb R,=l-l or an acyl group with one to four carbon atoms or an alkyl group with one to two carbon atoms, and R, an alkyn group with two to four carbon atoms, which may contain halogen and in which there is one ethylenic bond starting from carbon atom five to carbon atom four or six, in a suitable dosage form.

Compounds to be used in the dosage fonns according to the invention are i.a.: A I7a-ethynyloestrene-l713-01, 173-01, A-

l 7a-ethynyloestrenel 73-01, ol-ethylether,

A- l 7a-propynyloestrene- 1 713-], A I 7a-propynyloestrenel 7B-ol-acetate, A-l7a-butynyloestrenel713-01, A 1 7a-propargyloestrene-l 7B-ol-butyrate.

The quantity of gestagenic substance per dosage unit form can amount to 0.1-0.4 mg. Preferably 0.l50.25 mg. of gestagenic substance is used per dosage unit, A 470:- ethynyloestrenel 7B-ol, A 1 7a-propargyloestrene- 1 73-0], A- l 7a-ethynyloestrene-l 7B-ol-acetate and A- 1 7apropynyloestrene- I 73-01 being preferably used as the gestagenic substance.

The invention also comprises a process for the manufacture of a pharmaceutical preparation which contains as contraceptive material only one or more gestagenic substances of the above formula in a form suitable for administration.

Moreover the invention comprises a method for the prevention of conception by continuous administration, with regular intervals, of pharmaceutical preparations containing as con- A- l 7a-propargyloestrene- A I 7a-propynyl0estrenel 713- traceptive material only one or more gestagenic substances, in a suitable dosage form, which substances have the above formula.

As stated above the dosages are preferably given with intervals of one day so that the taking of the medicine is simply a question of routine, while other ways of dosing always require an aid to memory. It is also possible, however, especially with the higher concentrations within the scope of the invention, to administer the dosages with an interval of two days between two consecutive dosages.

DESCRlP'l'lON OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following examples serve to illustrate the invention:

EXAMPLE I Tablets containing the following components per tablet:

A-l7a-ethynyloestrene-l7B-ol 0.25 mg. potato starch 20.25 mg. glycerol l00%) L mg. mlgnesiurn stearate 1 mg. talcum 4 mg. a-tocoferol 0.2 mg. lactose mg.

were manufactured by mixing the above-mentioned components and tableting them.

These tablets were taken daily for 6 months (1 tablet per day) by 59 subjects of proven fertility. The subjects were under control during the whole test period.

The following was observed:

No increase in weight;

No pregnancies during the test period;

No systemic side-effects;

Regular cycle.

EXAMPLE II Tablets of the following composition were manufactured in accordance with example l:

A- l 7a-propynyloestrenel 7B-ol-acctate 0.4 mg. potato starch 20. I0 mg. stearic acid 1 mg. talcum 4 mg. a-tocoferol 0.2 mg. lactose I00 mg.

These tablets were taken daily for 6 months (I tablet per day) by 48 subjects of proven fertility. The subjects were under control during the whole test period. The observations were equal to those in example 1.

EXAMPLE I]! Tablets were manufactured in accordance with example I, but instead of A -l7a-ethynyloestrene-l7Bol 0.25 mg. A-l7 a-propynyloestrenel 7B-ol was used.

The effect observed in 53 subjects during a period of 6 months was equal to that in example I.

EXAMPLE IV Tablets in accordance with example ll were used in rotation with tablets without gestagenic component, their composition otherwise being the same. This was done during a period of 6 months by 47 subjects. The tablets containing a gestagenic substance were invariably taken every other day. The effect was the same as in example I.

Comparative tests with other gestagenic preparations having the same concentration showed that, unlike the preparations according to the invention, these preparations produce undesirable side-effects such as depression, headache, unpleasant systemic effects and/or irregularity of menses.

What is claimed is:

l. A pharmaceutical preparation in dosage unit form having a contraceptive action, containing as its sole active ingredient a gestagenic substance of the formula:

in which R, is selected from the group consisting of H, acyl having one to four carbon atoms and alkyl having one to two carbon atoms, R, is alkyne having two to four carbon atoms, and in which there is one ethylenic bond selected from the group consisting of A and A in an effective contraceptive dosage range from 0.1 to 0.4 milligrams, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

2. The pharmaceutical dosage unit form of claim 1 containing A-l7a-propynyloestrene-1713-01 as gestagenic substance.

3. The pharmaceutical dosage unit form of claim 1 containing A-l 7a-propynyloestrene-l7fl-ol-acetate as gestagenic substance.

4. The pharmaceutical dosage unit form of claim 1 containing 0.15 to 0.25 mg. of gestagenic substance per dosage unit.

5. Method for the prevention of pregnancy consisting in administering to a woman serially at regular intervals an oral pharmaceutical preparation in dosage unit form having a contraceptive action, containing as its sole active ingredient a gestagenic substance of the formula: 

2. The pharmaceutical dosage unit form of claim 1 containing Delta 4-17 Alpha -propynyloestrene-17 Beta -ol as gestagenic substance.
 3. The pharmaceutical dosage unit form of claim 1 containing Delta 4-17 Alpha -propynyloestrene-17 Beta -ol-acetate as gestagenic substance.
 4. The pharmaceutical dosage unit form of claim 1 containing 0.15 to 0.25 mg. of gestagenic substance per dosage unit.
 5. Method for the prevention of pregnancy consisting in administering to a woman serially at regular intervals an oral pharmaceutical preparation in dosage unit form having a contraceptive action, containing as its sole active ingredient a gestagenic substance of the formula: 